A jazz musician has found an ideal work-life balance by combining his musical talents with time as a signaller at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR).

Jazz musician Ted Beausire from Charlbury in Oxfordshire originally joined the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways as a summer job in the 1970s before he finished his studies at university and worked for British Rail.

After he retired as a mainline railway signaller, he has now returned to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways as a volunteer.

It was in 2014 when Ted received permission from Control at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways to play his trombone between train movements at the new Harbour Station signal box.

He says he has never had any complaints and remembers serenading occasional evening jazz specials as they headed out of Porthmadog Harbour station.

Ted is now a regular sight heading for a signal box with his trombone case in hand and is sometimes rostered to work the Rhiw Goch Signal box.

Whilst there, the sound of his trombone can be heard resounding in the hills above Penrhyndeudraeth while he practices his jazz set.

When not practising his trombone at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, Ted and his band Poco Loco can be seen playing in venues around Oxfordshire.

Musicians can often be seen performing around railway stations, and earlier this year Transport for London held auditions for buskers to performs at its underground stations, and a pitch was set aside for buskers at Leeds City railway station,

I became a signaller at Oxford and I soon discovered I could also practice my trombone there!

There was time on nights when you were on your own and we could use the tea break room during the day. That was very good news for a musician, and I thought if I can practice my trombone at work then there are probably places I can play when I come up to Wales to volunteer.

You’ll never get anywhere with music unless you practice.

Ted Beausire, signaller and jazz musician

Ted is well known for his musical talents here and his signalling expertise.

Signalmen over the years have found things to keep them occupied between trains to keep them alert.

Many choose to train to be a signalman not only as it is a much-respected key role but it offers a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of the station.

Michael Baker, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Operating Manager